A recent article on Livemint.com, an Indian business newspaper owned by the Wall Street Journal, pointed to the growing tendency for individuals in India to invest in microfinance institutions (MFIs).
Category: South Asia, East Asia and Pacific
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Issues 2009 Annual Report Highlighting Increase in Access to Microfinance through Mobile Banking
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the central bank of the Philippines, recently released its 2009 annual report highlighting developments in the Philippine economy and microfinance industry.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Dutch Investor in Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) Oikocredit Pays USD 675,000 for 10-Percent Stake in India-based ESAF Microfinance and Investment
Oikocredit, a Dutch investor in microfinance institutions (MFIs), has paid INR 30 million (USD 675,000) for a 10-percent stake in Kerala-based ESAF (Evangelical Social Action Forum) Microfinance and Investment Private Limited (ESAF). The investment was made through a wholly-owned Indian subsidiary of Oikocredit, Manaveeya Holdings and Investments.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Economic Downturn Causes Liquidity Crisis Among Pakistan’s Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), but Default Rate Remains Low So Far
The default rate for Pakistan’s microfinance institutions (MFIs) stands at two percent, while non-performing loans of commercial banks is at 12.2 percent, according to an article in Pakistan’s daily The News International.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Allows Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to Mobilize Deposits
The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), Nepal’s central bank, is now allowing licensed microfinance institutions (MFIs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to mobilize deposits from the general public.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Women’s World Banking’s (WWB) Center for Microfinance Leadership and University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business Host Advanced Leadership Course
Women’s World Banking (WWB), an organization that provides technical and advisory services to its global network of microfinance institutions (MFIs), has partnered with Wharton’s Aresty Institute for Executive Education to host its first advanced leadership course for microfinance professionals in March.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Investment Firms Matrix Partners India, Hivos-Triodos Fonds and Lok Capital LLC Invest $26.5m in Indian BASIX Microfinance Institution Bhartiya Samruddhi Finance Limited (BSFL)
Matrix Partners India, a Mumbai-based investment firm, is investing INR 1 billion (USD 22.5 million) in Bhartiya Samruddhi Finance Limited (BSFL), an Indian microfinance institution that is a member of the BASIX (Bhartiya Samruddhi Investment & Consulting Service) Group. Two existing investors, Europe-based Hivos-Triodos Fonds and dedicated microfinance institution (MFI) investor Lok Capital LLC, are contributing a further INR 127 million (USD 2.9 million) and INR 55 million (USD 1.2 million) respectively.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: India Business Excellence Fund (IBEF), a Private Equity Fund, Invests $4.4m of Equity in AU Financiers, a Non-banking Financial Company Located in India, to Increase Lending to Small Entrepreneurs
The India Business Excellence Fund (IBEF), a private equity fund, will invest INR 200 million of equity, the equivalent of over USD 4.4 million, in AU Financiers, a non-banking financial company located in India, in order to provide loans for “low-income, self-employed, first-venture, and small transport entrepreneurs” in rural and semi-urban areas of states including Rajasthan.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance Institution Farz Foundation and Insurance Provider Pak-Qatar Family Takaful Limited (PQFTL) to Provide Shari’ah-Compliant Insurance Facilities in Lahore
Farz Foundation and Pak-Qatar Family Takaful Limited (PQFTL), Pakistan-based organizations that provide microfinance services adhering to the principles of Islam, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the provision of Shari’ah-compliant insurance facilities in Lahore.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Investment Arm of the World Bank, Provides USD 300,000 Investment to Utkarsh Micro Finance, a Microfinance Start-Up Based in Varanasi, India
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, has provided a USD 300,000 investment to Utkarsh Micro Finance Private Limited, a microfinance start-up providing loans in Northern India.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Asia-based CLSA Capital Partners Invests $24m in Indian Microfinance Institution (MFI) Equitas
CLSA Capital Partners, the alternative asset management arm of CLSA (Credit Lyonnais Securities Asia) Asia-Pacific Markets, has bought a minority stake in Equitas Micro Finance India Private Limited (Equitas), a Chennai-based microfinance institution (MFI), for USD 24 million.
MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: Women and Income-Generating Activities: Understanding Motivations by Prioritising Skill, Knowledge and Capabilities, by Thanuja Mummidi
Written by Thanuja Mummidi, published by the Rural Microfinance and Employment project (RUME) in June 2009, 27 pages, available at: http://www.rume-rural-microfinance.org/IMG/pdf_WP5.pdf
This study examines a methodology for analyzing whether or not microfinance promotes income-generating activities amongst the poor, specifically focusing on women.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) Releases 2009 Asia Microfinance Analysis and Benchmarking Report
The nonprofit Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) has released the 2009 Asia Microfinance Analysis and Benchmarking Report.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: State Enterprises Ministry of Indonesia Gives State-Owned Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), a Bank Specializing in Microfinance, Permission to Acquire Bank Agroniaga, a Bank Focused on the Agro-Business Sector
The State Enterprises Ministry of Indonesia has given permission for Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), a state-owned bank specializing in microfinance, to acquire Bank Agroniaga, a state-owned bank focused on the agro-business sector.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Indian BASIX Microfinance Institution Bhartiya Samruddhi Finance Ltd. (BSFL) Partners with Micro Home Solutions
Bhartiya Samruddhi Finance Ltd. (BSFL), an Indian microfinance institution that is a member of the BASIX Group, recently entered into a strategic partnership with Micro Home Solutions (MHS), a social enterprise based in India that provides housing to poor urban residents.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Bank of Ceylon, State-Owned Commercial Bank in Sri Lanka, to Soon Open 31 Branches Focusing on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
The Bank of Ceylon, a state-owned commercial bank in Sri Lanka, will soon open 31 branches focused on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: SKS Microfinance Limited, Microfinance Institution (MFI) in India, Files to Raise $250m in Initial Public Offering (IPO)
There are now more details available regarding the much-anticipated initial public offering (IPO) of SKS Microfinance Limited, a microfinance institution (MFI) based in India, which MicroCapital covered most recently on March 9, 2010.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Indian Microfinance Funds Seek to Expand Focus Beyond Microcredit
According to a recent article on VCCircle.com, an Indian online news platform, Indian microfinance fund managers are diversifying their investment base to include more areas of social investing, such as microinsurance, micro housing finance, healthcare, mobile payments and rural supply chains.